Lou Brock Headlining 2012 Night of Memories

After landing Bob Gibson and Ozzie Smith the past two years as the featured guest at Night of Memories, Paul Gries has secured a rare trifecta in Lou Brock, yet another former St. Louis Cardinal and member of Baseball's Hall of Fame.

Brock will headline the annual Night of Memories fundraiser for youth sports on Jan. 14 at the Vanderburgh 4-H Center.

"Ozzie Smith was awesome (last January) and we had Bob Gibson the year before," said Gries, Tri-State Hot Stove League vice president. "We keep getting Cardinals and Cardinal fans go nuts over it. We feel very fortunate."

Steve Carlton, another Hall of Famer who began his career with the Cardinals, was the featured guest in 2009.

Brock was inducted into the Hall in 1985. He broke Ty Cobb's all-time major league stolen base record in 1977, eventually finishing with 938. But his total was surpassed by Rickey Henderson in 1991.

Still the National League's career stolen base leader, Brock also is a member of baseball's prestigious 3,000-hit club, finishing with 3,023.

Gries said getting such quality guests would be unlikely without the help of Evansville native and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, a Night of Memories mainstay.

"Because of Don Mattingly we've always been able to convince some other greats to come to Evansville and help raise money for charity organizations and youth groups," Gries said.

After a one-year absence, Jamey Carroll will return to the Night of Memories lineup. The veteran infielder left the Dodgers to sign a free-agent contract with the Minnesota Twins in November.

"Jamey wasn't able to come last year, but he has been very faithful to us over the years," Gries said.

College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Griese and former Cardinal pitcher and current Cardinal broadcaster Al Hrabosky will also be on hand.

"I give Bob praise too for giving back," Gries said. "He gives us Super Bowl tickets, probably 20 years in a row now. It has gone in the $5,000-to-$8,000 range the last five or six years (during the auction). That's the biggest item we have."

2012 NIGHT of MEMORIES SCHEDULE

January 14, 2012

Autograph Session: 3:30-5:30pm

Introduction of Guests: 6:30-7:00pm

Celebrity Guest Chat Session: 7:00-7:45pm

Live & Silent Auction: 7:45-9:30pm

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